V.IV Rusty from Armored Core VI

Armored Core VI is about people who sacrifice their humanity to survive, climbing the militarized corpo ladder for a shot at something that can outlive both their flesh and mech armor: a legacy. No one in FromSoftware’s excellent high-speed sci-fi shooter has cemented their status as a fan favorite and lowkey emotional lightning rod like Rusty, the player character 621’s main peer, foil, and potential frenemy. He’s the best friend that makes you feel like the protagonist in your own life, picking you up when you’re down and knocking you over when no one else is willing to, always there to call you “buddy” when everyone else doesn’t bother to mention you at all.

Polygon’s Michael McWhertor put it best. “Rusty […] offers 621 a path toward redemption, toward that ‘purpose,’ toward something more than just another job,” he wrote earlier this year. “In the cold, callous world of Armored Core VI, that’s a uniquely humanizing thing.” When Rusty eventually reveals his true mission and identity it only makes him that much cooler, and the respect and dignity he affords the nameless mercenary that much more touching. Everyone deserves to have a Rusty in their life. Especially Rusty. — Ethan Gach